Two shipments of tomatoes weighing 32,039 kg were stopped at the Sarpi customs checkpoint on Georgia's border with Turkey. The cargo was not allowed to enter the country due to quarantine violations.
According to the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, during a routine inspection, a phytosanitary officer found signs of Tuta Absoluta, a pest known as the tomato leaf miner, which poses a risk to greenhouse crops.
As a result, the shipments were returned to the exporting country, Turkey.
According to Georgia's National Statistics Office, 7,522 tonnes of tomatoes worth $5.36 million were imported in January–March 2025. Of this amount, 7,224 tonnes (96%) came from Turkey.
Other suppliers included:
- Azerbaijan — 235.2 tonnes ($156,900)
- Iran — 51.9 tonnes ($36,400)
- Spain — 7.2 tonnes ($14,900)
- Netherlands — 3 tonnes ($9,800).
Source: bizzone.info